Bacteriophages and microbial interactions

A framework for Polinton-like virus diversity across aquatic microbiomes reveals links to multiple viral classes and Nucleocytoviricota

The paper analyzes viral genomes from aquatic ecosystems to clarify the evolutionary structure of Polinton-like viruses, revealing their distribution across multiple viral classes and linking them to Nucleocytoviricota.

Widespread phages exhibit depth-structured infection coupled with ammonia oxidation

This study identifies amoC-encoding phages in freshwater lakes and shows their depth-structured infection patterns linked to ammonia-oxidizing bacteria.

A nucleic acid host factor enables optimal phage replication in Escherichia coli

The paper shows that T2 phage uses the host sRNA ArcZ to stabilize its own transcript and inhibit a bacterial restriction system.

Prophage induction contributes to alterations in the gut phageome during intestinal inflammation

This study investigates whether prophage induction contributes to changes in the gut phageome during intestinal inflammation using in vitro and mouse model analyses.

Intracellular barriers and receptor masking limit success of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical phage family

The paper identifies surface receptor masking and internal defenses as barriers to phage therapy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates and presents strategies to overcome these barriers through phage engineering.

Multidimensional Characterization of Novel Phage UCB24 Targeting Erwinia amylovora

This study characterizes the bacteriophage UCB24 as an effective biocontrol agent against Erwinia amylovora, showing high efficacy in plant trials and a novel molecular mechanism of action.

Coupled effects of salinity and host phylogeny on niche breadth and viral evolution from seawater to salt saturation

The paper examines how salinity and host phylogeny influence viral niche breadth and evolution in hypersaline environments, finding that viruses have broader niches than hosts at high salinity.

Horizontal transfer of a 180-kbp genomic fraction among the largest viral genomes

This study identifies a 180-kbp genomic region horizontally transferred among pandoraviruses, contributing to their genomic expansion and evolution.

HtPIP: High-Throughput Phage Isolation Platform increases diversity and reduces isolation time using multiple bacteria

The paper introduces HtPIP, a high-throughput phage isolation platform that increases diversity and reduces isolation time by isolating novel phages from environmental samples.

Virus-host interactions on volcanic ash from Mount Etna

This study examines viral and bacterial diversity in volcanic ash from Mount Etna, revealing novel species and active virus-host interactions.

In silico characterization of lysis and host-recognition modules in Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage genomes

The paper characterizes lysis and host-recognition modules in S. aureus bacteriophages, finding that lysis modules are conserved while host-recognition modules are variable.

High-resolution transcriptome analysis reveals a multilayered and dynamic transcriptional architecture in the archaeal virus SSV1

This study uses high-resolution transcriptomics to reveal complex transcriptional architecture in the archaeal virus SSV1, including new transcription start and termination sites and antisense RNAs.

RNA virus-mediated metabolic reprogramming in a bloom-forming, marine diatom

This study investigates how RNA virus infection reprograms the metabolism of a marine diatom, revealing significant changes in lipid and nitrogen pathways and stress responses.

Genetic manipulation of a giant virus-associated virophage

This study develops a reverse-genetics system for a virophage to investigate gene functions and their role in modulating giant virus replication.

Biosynthesis of glycosylated 5-hydroxycytosine in the DNA of diverse viruses

The paper identifies 5-hydroxycytosine (5hoC) as a precursor for glycosylated cytosine derivatives in viral DNA, revealing a novel mechanism for evading host defenses.

Temperate Phage Shape Honey Bee Gut Microbiome Structure and Response to Antibiotic Treatment

This study shows that a temperate phage can both aid Bifidobacterium gut colonization and increase sensitivity to antibiotics in honey bees.

Constant and variable warming differentially shape bacterial coexistence through phage-mediated interactions

The paper shows constant warming enhances phage-mediated coexistence of bacterial species, while variable warming disrupts it by reducing phage control.

YprA family helicases provide the missing link between diverse prokaryotic immune systems

The paper identifies YprA family helicases as a missing link connecting DISARM and Druantia immune systems in prokaryotes, revealing new defense classes and their antiviral mechanisms.

Virus-grazer interplay enhances virus production, particle aggregation, and trophic efficiency during infection of Prochlorococcus

The paper investigates how virus-grazer interactions affect Prochlorococcus mortality, virus production, and organic matter aggregation in a simplified marine ecosystem.

Lethal permeabilization of host bacteria to small-molecule compounds during phage penetration

This study shows that phage-mediated permeabilization of bacterial membranes allows small molecules to enter and kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Temperate and filamentous bacteriophages as reservoirs of bacterial virulence in stony coral tissue loss disease

The paper identifies bacteriophages in stony coral tissue loss disease that carry virulence genes, suggesting lysogenic conversion may contribute to bacterial pathogenesis in corals.

Genomic and phenotypic characterization of novel jumbo and small bacteriophages infecting Xanthomonas hortorum pv. vitians: Toward a phage-based biocontrol strategy

The paper isolates and characterizes eight novel lytic phages against Xanthomonas hortorum pv. vitians, highlighting their potential for phage-based biocontrol.

Sequential Use of Two Capsule-Targeting Klebsiella Phages Reveals Order-Dependent Efficacy and Distinct Resistance Pathways in vitro and in vivo

This study shows that sequential use of two K1-targeting phages can improve efficacy against Klebsiella pneumoniae by exploiting resistance-virulence trade-offs and avoiding shared resistance pathways.

Synthetically designed anti-defense proteins overcome barriers to bacterial transformation and phage infection

The paper designs synthetic proteins that inhibit bacterial defense systems, enabling phage infection and plasmid transformation in otherwise resistant strains.

A C-terminal Processing Protease Implicated in Flagellin Turnover and Developmental Progression in a Bacterial Predator

This study identifies Bd0967 as a C-terminal processing protease in Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus that degrades flagellins and regulates developmental progression.

Vicennial metagenomic time series unveils evolutionary dynamics of giant viruses in a freshwater ecosystem

This study uses a 20-year metagenomic time series to analyze the evolutionary dynamics of giant viruses in Lake Mendota, revealing gene duplication, horizontal transfer, and adaptive responses to environmental changes.

Balancing of immune activation and suppression during phage infection

The paper shows how phages evade bacterial immune systems by using allelic variation and an anti-defense hotspot, revealing a similarity to a human protein.

Symbiosis through lysis: host-triggered prophage induction drives probiotic function in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum

This study shows that prophage induction in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum releases extracellular vesicles that support host growth during nutritional stress.

Reversible inhibition of viral life cycle in response to elevated temperature in a bloom-forming alga

The paper shows that elevated temperature inhibits viral life cycle stages in Gephyrocapsa huxleyi but allows reversibility under prolonged heatwave conditions.

A Tripartite Co-culture System Reveals Defensive Mutualism Between a Nanobdellati Symbiont and Its Host

The paper establishes a tripartite co-culture system to study defensive mutualism between a Nanobdellati symbiont and its host, revealing glycan-mediated protection against viral infection.